ARIZONA INVITATIONAL

champs & finalists

          Jon Abigania and Madden McKinney each earned $1,000 scholarships as champions of the 30^th annual JBT Arizona Invitational tournament, hosted by Phoenix’s Let It Roll Bowl and Entertainment. 

          After qualifying, sixteen advancers in scratch and handicap competed in thrilling triple elimination matchplay.  In scratch, Christian Ortega dominated qualifying to earn the 1-seed, and did well in matchplay, eventually falling in round seven to Abigania.  In round eight, Abigania gave Gyrus Alo, the only person to beat him, his second loss, while #3 Brent Purugganan enjoyed a bye.   That win gave Jon a bye while Brent eliminated Gyrus, leaving Purugganan with the tough task of beating Abigania twice for the title.

          Jon’s family has a past (and present) of great JBT performances in our biggest events, and he continued the tradition by being virtually untouchable here, beating Brent for the title and $1,000 top prize, becoming the 63rd bowler in JBT history to notch 10 career titles.  Brent’s fine bowling and career best day earned him the $500 runner-up prize.

          Eight year-old defending All-Conference Bowler of the Year Harvey Howe regained his form by leading handicap division qualifying, and going 6-1 to start matchplay.  McKinney gave him his second loss in round eight while Cody Chiles simultaneously eliminated Sara Lynnes.  With three bowlers left, Madden got a bye, while Howe ended Chiles’ fine run, resulting in a one-game match for all the marbles. 

          The finale went back and forth, and needing a mark in the tenth to seal things, McKinney left an unmakeable split, which now meant Howe needed a mark+count to win.  His Broooklyn shot left a 7-9, and when the miracle conversion didn’t happen, a stunned McKinney claimed his second title and $1K windfall, while Howe settled for the runner-up spot for the second straight year in this event and another $500 to his sizable total.

          Tiana Thoman-Smith continued her Bowler of the Year season in Girls Scratch by leading that Invite division, but Kendall Bollea came up with the title match win to capture that event.  Buddies Ortega and Cameron Sager played for the U17 title, with Ortega winning that match for the crown.

          Biggest of thanks to the Let It Roll team for their usual flawless hosting job, they’ve got that facility going great, check it out!  Top season long performers now advance to the TPC, our most prestigious event, with $3,000 top prizes on the line!

JBT 2026 INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

$25,000 in scholarships

MINIMUM GUARANTEED!

Mojave: May 31, 9 AM, at Strike Zone

Pac NW: June 7, 9 AM, at Triangle Bowl

So Cal: June 14, 9 AM, at Winnetka Bowl

Mountain: June 21, 9 AM, Silva Lanes

Arizona: June 28, 9 AM, at Let It Roll  

ENTRY FEE: $60

Includes all scholarships except $2 scholarship brackets in both divisions

Eligibility:

Each event is open to anyone making TWO top-5 finishes in that Conference this season,

OR the top 40 in season-long points in that Conference after the last regular season event in that Conference

Format:

-QUALIFYING: Bowl 5 games across 10 lanes.   The top eleven 5-game totals, plus the top 5 season-long point scorers, advance to the triple-elimination finals!  (If a top-5 player does not bowl or chooses to bowl in the opposite division, additional bowlers will be taken to complete a 16-player field)

-FINALS: Bowlers will play TRIPLE elimination match play (keep bowling until you lose 3 times), until a winner is determined

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GUARANTEED PRIZE FUNDS, each event:

1^st-$1,000

2^nd- $500

3^rd- $250

4^th- $125

5^th- $100

Additional spots earn scholarships on a 1:6 ratio

PLUS The top 5 point scorers going into each Invite will have Invite winnings augmented to $50 minimum

ALL OTHER JBT RULES APPLY. SEE YOU THERE, DON’T MISS IT!!!